Aroldis Chapman has already proven himself in the Big Apple. (Ross D. Franklin/AP)

OXON HILL, MD — Aroldis Chapman must still take a physical before his new five-year, $86 million deal with the Yankees becomes official, so Brian Cashman didn't have much to say about his biggest move of the winter.

But the general manager spoke glowingly of Chapman in broader terms, making it clear why he handed the lefthander the biggest contract for a closer in baseball history.

Advertisement

"Chapman can handle New York; that was not in question," Cashman said. "He came through, he proved that. There's an attractiveness to his availability in the marketplace because he didn't have a draft pick attached to him. We know him and that's why we focused on him a little bit more than others."

The return of Chapman moves Dellin Betances back into his old setup role, though Cashman said he doesn't feel the need to speak with Betances about the decision to sign a closer rather than sticking with him.

"Nothing has been promised to him," Cashman said. "I know Dellin is looking forward to being on the best team he can possibly be on. If that means he's pitching before the ninth, I don't think that would be an issue for him in any way, shape or form. That's all he's done most of his career."

Chapman's deal includes a full no-trade clause for the first three years, as well as an opt-out clause after 2019. Cashman admitted that he isn't a fan of opt-outs, but "that's the price of poker" in the current free-agent market.

"I don't like it," Cashman said. "At the end of the day, I know that the competition that we're up with were giving opt-outs in Year 1 and 2. At least we were able to put it in Year 3."

CHASE ON THE CASE

With Matt Holliday signed, sealed and delivered to be the Yankees' new DH (and backup option in right field and at first base), Cashman won't be seeking more offense this offseason.

One player that appears to be off the block is Chase Headley, who had been drawing interest from several teams early this winter.

"I've turned down what was presented to me," Cashman said. "I don't think there's going to be any other opportunities that way at the time being. I'm still getting hits on Gardy but the Headley stuff, I've decided to pass on and keep Chase."

The teams must carry the players on their active major-league rosters for all of next season or they will be placed on waivers and, if they're unclaimed, ultimately offered back to the Yankees

Three more players — infielder Kevin Cornelius and righthanders Ty Hensley and Kelvin Magallanes — were taken by other teams in the first round of the Triple-A phase.

"We'd like to have them all back; losing four guys hurts," Cashman said. "It gets worse going forward in years to come because of the collection of talent we've got, but that's the price you deal with when you have a system like we've got. Hopefully we'll get them all back."

With a full 40-man roster, the Yankees made no selections in the major-league phase, but they selected two players — catcher Jorge Saez from Toronto and righthander Colten Brewer — during the Triple-A portion.